Piercing earring and method of manufacture thereof



Nov. 21, 1967 M. RAPAPORT 3,353,372

PIERGING EARRING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF Filed May 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Max Rapqvort,

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M. RAPAFORT Nov. 21, 1967 PIERCING EARRING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed May 29, 1964 INVENTOR. Max fla vgvor t,

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United States Patent 3,353,372 PIERCING EARRING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF Max Rapaport, Cranston, R.I., assignor to Nomo Products, Inc., Johnston, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed May 29, 1964, Ser. No. 371,235 3 Claims. (Cl. 63-12) The present invention relates to a piercing earring and to the method of manufacture thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hoop type piercing earring and to the method of manufacture and assembly of the component parts thereof, including the means by which the ear wire for securing the earring on the ear lobe of the wearer is pivotally mounted in position.

One of the more common types of earrings is the socalled piercing earring that includes a hoop shaped body portion and a pivotally mounted U-shaped ear wire that is adapted to mount the earring in place on the we-arers ear lobe. Prior to the instant invention, hoop-type piercing earrings have generally been constructed by soldering together shell portions to define a body portion, the ends of which are spaced. The space between the ends of the body portion is normally bridged by an ear wire that is pivotally joined to the body portion at one end thereof. In order to pivotally mount the ear wire, the prior known constructions were usually slotted at one end thereof for receiving the loop of the ear wire therein, a pin being inserted through the outside of the body portion and extending through the loop of the ear wire to define a pivot bar therefor.

Although the prior known hoop type of piercing earrings have been satisfactory for the use intended, the manufacture of this type of earring normally required a series of steps that unnecessarily increased the cost of the finished product. In order to reduce the manufacturing steps involved and thereby decrease the cost of the finished earring, the present invention includes a unique constructional arrangement of the parts, and further teaches a new method of assembly thereof. In carrying out the manufacture of the earring embodied in the present invention, a pair of shell portions are formed in a generally hoop configuration, the ends of the assembled shell portion being spaced to provide for entry of the wearers ear lobe therebetween. The shell portions are adapted to be interfitted together to define a tubular body portion; however, prior to the assembly of the shell portions an end projection that is formed as an integral part of one of the shell portions is reversely bent to a position that is generally transverse to the shell portion wall to which the projection is joined. The projection, which is, in eflect, bent upon itself, defines a pivot bar for receiving the loop of a U-shaped ear wire. The shell portions are slotted adjacent the integral pivot bar, and the loop of the ear wire is thus pivotally mounted between the shell portions on the pivot bar. The shell portions are thereafter secured together to define thetubular body portion with the ear wire pivotally mounted thereon.

In one form of the invention a unique construction and technique are employed by which the shell portions are joined together. In this form of the invention, the shell portions are secured together by interfitting corresponding elements that are integrally formed thereon. In the fabrication of the modified shell portions, a plurality of projections having barbed ends joined thereto are formed as an integral part of one of the shell portions. The other of the shell portions is provided with integral eyelets that are turned inwardly for receiving the barbed projections. By interfitting the barbed projections and the eyelets, a

connecting joint is defined that firmly and securely joins the shell portions together in a tubular body portion.

3,353,372 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a unique piercing type of earring wherein a pivotally mounted ear wire is connectedto a tubular body portion by an improved form of pivot bar.

Another object of the invention is to teach a new method of manufacture and assembly of a piercing type earring that avoids the requirement of external fastening or securing means.

Still another object is to provide an earring construction that is simple to manufacture, easy to use and is durable.

Other objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away, of the earring embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing the inside of one of the shell portions that define the body portion of the earring'em bodied herein;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view showing the inside of the other of the shell portions that define the earring body portion;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a modified shell portion showing connecting elements joined thereto;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the other of the modifield shell portion showing connecting elements joined thereto that cooperate with the connecting elements illustrated in FIG. 7 for joining the shell portions together;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 1010 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing the interconnection of the connecting elements of the modified construction of FIGS. 7 and 9 prior to the assembly thereof; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing the assembled position of the connecting elements of the modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, one form of the earring embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a body portion generally indicated at 12 and an ear wire generally indicated at 14. The body portion 12 is of the hoop type and includes a first shell portion 16 that is generally semi-cylindrical in cross section and that is formed with inner arcuate edges 15 and 17. A second shell portion 18 is formed similarly to shell portion 16 and includes inner arcuate edges 19 and 20. The shell portions 16 and 18 are adapted to be joined along the edges 15, 19 and 17, 20 in some convenient manner such as soldering or the like. It is seen that the joined shell portions 16 and 18 form a tubular construction and that since the shell portions are each of an arcuate shape and configuration they define spaced ends indicated at 21 and 22 between which the ear lobe of the wearer extends when the earring 10 is to be mounted thereon. As seen in FIG. 4, the end 21 of the body portion 12 includes an opening 25 that is defined by grooves 24 and 23 that are formed in the shell portions 16 and 18 respectively. As will be described, the opening 25 is adapted to receive an end 26 of the ear wire 14 therein when the earring is locked in position on the ear lobe of the wearer.

The ear wire 14, which is U-shaped in configuration, further includes a central curved portion 28 and an end loop 30 that is adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent the end 22 of the body portion 12. For this purpose, the end 22 is slotted as indicated at 33 in FIG. 3, the slot 33 being defined by cut-out portions 32 and 31 formed in the ends of the shell portions 16 and 18 respectively. As further shown in FIG. 3, the width of the slot 33 is dimensioned so as to accommodate the loop 30 of the ear wire 14 therein.

In order to pivotally secure the ear wire 14 in position, a projection 34 is formed on the end of the shell portion 18 adjacent to the slot 33. As seen in FIG. 3, the projection 34 includes a portion 36 that is formed as an integral part of the shell portion 18 and that is reversely bent with respect to the end of the shell portion to which it is joined to locate the projection 34 in a position that is generally transverse to the walls that define the shell portions 16 and 18. The projection 34, in eifect, defines a pivot bar and extends laterally across the slot 33 for receiving the loop 3th of the ear wire 14 thereon.

In the assembly of the earring 10, the projection 34 is bent from an extended position to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to define the pivot bar, and the loop 30 of the ear wire 14 is then placed thereon. The shell portions 16 and 18 are next placed in abutting relation with edges 15, 19 and 16, 20 in mating relation and with the grooves 23, 24 that define the opening 25 and With the grooves 31 and 32 that define the slot 33 located in aligned relation. The shell portions 16 and 18 are then joined to gether at the seam or parting edge thereof by some convenient means, such as soldering or the like. Since the pivot bar defined by the projection 34 extends substantially across the width of the tubular body portion 12 as defined by the shell portions 16 and 18, the ear wire 14 is locked thereon in pivoted relation and is free to pivot from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines therein. The slot 33 is sufficiently wide enough to accommodate the loop so of the ear wire 14 and enables the ear wire 14 to freely pivot from the closed to open position as indicated. It is understood that when the earring 10 is to be mounted in place on the ear lobe of a wearer, the ear wire 14 is moved to the open position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, and after insertion of the ear wire through the ear lobe of the wearer, the end 26 of the ear wire is then inserted into the opening 25 for securely mounting the earring in place.

Since the projection 34 is formed as an integral part of the body portion 12, the heretofore known pintle openings for receiving a pivot pin are not required. Thus, the external walls of the shell portions 16 and 18 are imperforate and add to the ornamental features of the earring. Furthermore, since a separate drilling and mounting step for a pivot pin is not required because of the construction of the projection 34, the present invention eliminates several steps that have been required heretofore in the manufacture of piercing earrings. It is seen that it is only necessary to bend the projection 34 to the required position, place the loop of the ear wire 14 in place, and then join the shell portions 16 and 18 to complete the assembly operation of the earring embodied herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 12, a modified form of the invention is illustrated and is directed to the method of attachment of the shell portions that define the tubular body portion. As shown in FIG. 7, a shell portion generally indicated at 38 includes a curved wall 40 to which ,edges 42 and 44 are joined. The shell portion 38 is formed in a hoop type construction as described hereinabove in connection with the shell portion 16. Formed as an integral part of the edge 42 and inclined inwardly with respect thereto are projections 46 that are provided with barbed ends 48. As will be described, the barbed ends 48 are adapted to cooperate with eyelets of the adjacent shell portion to lock the shell portions together.

As seen in FIG. 9, a second shell portion generally indicated at 50 is provided and has a construction generally similar to shell portion 38 in that it includes a curved wall 52 on which edges 54 and 56 are formed. In the assembly of the shell portions 38 and 50, the edges 42 and 54, and 44 and 56 are located in abutting relation. Also formed on an end of the wall 52 of the shell portion 50 is a projection 58 that is adapted to be reversely bent to define a pivot bar similar to pivot bar 34, illustrated and described hereinabove. Joined to the edge 54 of the shell portion 5% and inclined inwardly with respect there to from an outer position are eyelets 60 in which openings are formed for receiving the barbed ends 48 of the projections 46.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the barbed ends 48 are received within the openings of the eyelets 60 that have been bent from the outer position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9 to the inwardly inclined position as shown in full lines. Since the barbed ends 48 of the projections 46 are somewhat wider than the openings in the eyelets 60 at the widest point thereof, they will be forced into the openings and upon entry therethrough they will positively lock the shell portions 38 and 5!) together. It is seen that by providing the connecting elements as defined by the eyelets so and by the projections 46 on which the barbed ends 4% are formed, a unique construction is defined by which the shell portions 38 and 50 are easily and quickly joined in interlocking relation. By utilizing this construction, the heretofore known soldered joint is no longer required, and the shell portions may be simply joined together with a minimum of effort to produce the tubular body portion as illustrated. It is understood that an ear wire will be incorporated in the modified construction illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12 and will be pivotally mounted on the transverse projection 58 as described hereinabove.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described, except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a piercing earring, a tubular body portion defined by a pair of generally arcuate shaped shell portions that are joined together, one of said shell portions having a projection integrally formed thereon adjacent an end thereof, said projection extending transversely of said shell portions and forming a pivot bar for said body portion, an ear wire pivotally connected to said pivot bar and being pivotally movable with respect thereto to a closed position for locking said earring on the ear lobe of the wearer, one of said shell portions being formed with a plurality of inwardly directed and spaced-apart projections having barbs on their free ends, the other of said shell portions having a plurality of projections including eyelets that are turned inwardly with respect thereto, each of said eyelets receiving a barb therein, said barbs and eyelets being within said body portion and securing said shells together to define the tubular construction of said body portion.

2. In an earring construction, a tubular body portion that includes spaced ends between which the ear lobe of the wearer is adapted to extend, one of the ends of said tubular body portion including a transverse pivot bar that is formed as an integral part thereof and that is located inwardly of said body portion, wherein the exterior side faces of said body portion are imperforate, an ear wire pivotally joined to said pivot bar for securing said earring on the ear lobe of the wearer, said tubular body portion including opposed shell portions that are joined together at the inner edges thereof, said pivot bar being formed as an extension of one of said shell portions adjacent to an end thereof and being reversely bent to locate the pivot bar in the transverse position thereof, one of said shell portions including a plurality of inwardly directed projections, and the other of said shell portions including a plurality of inwardly directed eyelets, each of said projections extending into an eyelet and being secured therein, said eyelets and projections being within said body portion, said shell portions being permanently attached together to define the tubular body portion.

3. In an earring construction, a tubular body portion defined by a pair of generally arcuate shaped shell portions that are joined together, said body portion including spaced ends between which the ear lobe of the wearer is adapted to extend, one of said shell portions including a projection at one end thereof that is integrally connected thereto, said projection being located interiorly of said body portion, the exterior surfaces of said body portion being imperforate in the'area that is in the path of the axis of said projection, said projection being positioned such that it extends from said one end into said body portion and is reversely curved to extend transversely References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 842,5 80 1/ 1907 Plecker. 1,945,932 2/ 1934 Caley. 2,814,159 11/1957 Green. 3,208,239 9/1965 Pintarelli 63-12 FOREIGN PATENTS 791,102 2/ 1958 Great Britain.

20 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner. 

3. IN AN EARRING CONSTRUCTION, A TUBULAR BODY PORTION DEFINED BY A PAIR OF GENERALLY ARCUATE SHAPED SHELL PORTIONS THAT ARE JOINED TOGETHER, SAID BODY PORTION INCLUDING SPACED ENDS BETWEEN WHICH THE EAR LOBE OF THE WEARER IS ADAPTED TO EXTEND, ONE OF SAID SHELL PORTIONS INCLUDING A PROJECTION AT ONE END THEREOF THAT IS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED THERETO, SAID PROJECTION BEING LOCATED INTERIORLY OF SAID BODY PORTION, THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING IMPERFORATE IN THE AREA THAT IS IN THE PATH OF THE AXIS OF SAID PROJECTION, SAID PROJECTION BEING POSITIONED SUCH THAT IT EXTENDS FROM SAID ONE END INTO SAID BODY PORTION AND IS REVERSELY CURVED TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY WITHIN SAID TUBULAR BODY PORTION, THEREBY DEFINING A HINGE AXIS FOR AN EAR WIRE, A SLOT BEING FORMED IN AN END OF SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT TO SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PROJECTION, SAID EAR WIRE HAVING A LOOP PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PROJECTION AND PROVIDING FOR EXTENSION OF SAID EAR WIRE THROUGH SAID SLOT FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY PORTION WHEN SAID EAR WIRE IS TO BE LOCKED ON THE EAR LOBE OF THE WEARER. 